How can Big Data help connectivity and mobility?

This article was written in collaboration with Alex Farcet, co-founder of Startupbootcamp

Events around the world are looking this week at what Big Data means, what’s exciting about it and how we can best make use of it. For us at Startupbootcamp, Big Data is deeply correlated with connectivity and mobility – they go hand in hand.

With an increasing number of connected devices, the ‘Internet of Things’ presents us with a huge range of opportunities based on the possibility that objects are able to interact with each other. These connected devices are also building up banks of data, and this data needs to be put to good use. For example, connecting cars to smart parking systems in order to reduce gas wastage, or correlating your blood pressure, sleep and activity levels to help you lose weight are just two possibilities that come with the increase of connectivity, and they rely on your data.

Similarly, understanding large amounts data can be help to fuel and improve services in the mobility space. The increasing ubiquity of smartphones has meant that brands have to account for a new set of consumer behaviours, as well as their higher expectations, and Big Data can help brands to identify patterns. People want to consume more and more while they’re on the go, opening up new gaps that demand new mobility solutions.

With the increase of connectivity and mobility, we face this challenge of handling unprecedented amounts of data. According to research by IBM, 90% of the data today has been generated in the last 2 years. So simply capturing data is not enough, it’s now about using data in a smart way – remembering that the numbers represent real people, and using the data to predict what impact consumer behaviour will have.

This is exactly the reason why we, Startupbootcamp Berlin, have partnered up with Mercedes-Benz, HDI and Bosch for the upcoming startup acceleration program called SBC2go, starting in August. Together with our partners and 10 startups we believe we can have a real impact on how people will experience the world tomorrow. Our new partnership will enable startups of the Berlin program to have a global impact on innovation in the fields of Big Data, Connectivity and Mobility by providing them with first class mentorship, access to global innovation resources and networks and also support with their marketing efforts.

Applications for the program are open until June 2nd. Interested entrepreneurs and startups can apply directly online or pitch to top notch mentors and the Startupbootcamp team personally at one of the Startupbootcamp Pitch Days that form part of Big Data Week.

This article originally appeared on the Big Data Week website.

Life Hack Day!

We believe today, 20th April, is the first ever Life Hack Day, and the concept is blissfully simple: around 40 likeminded people coming together for a fairly chilled hackathon, complete with the obligatory pizza, in which we help each other with life hacks. Hearing people’s recommendations in real life has been immensely satisfying; I’m certain we’re already more productive just from sharing productivity apps…

Upon arrival, everybody signed a Declaration of Intent Dossier with their plans for life hack day, their mood (from a choice of emoticons), and their skill areas, which we then shared when we stood up to introduce ourselves. Some of the more unusual plans included creating biodegradable paper, making a self-watering plant, and building a couch out of old pallets, and of course a lot of people were keen to hear more about managing their finances, their ideas and their time.

Here are some of our efforts so far…

Just a few of the happy life hackers

Hard at work with electronics and learning more about Evernote

I made a Life Hackers Badge of Honour.

And we haven’t finished just yet! We still have beer and a show & tell session to come. Thanks very much to Loopcam and HowDo for hosting the event, and fueling our brains and hands with breakfast, lunch, dinner and beer! Has anybody else been organising life hack days in their own cities? We’d love to hear what you’ve been up to!

If you want to see more of what we’ve been doing today, check out the hashtag #lifehackday – thanks!